Mama always told me not to look into the eyes of the Sun. Who wants to just look at the sun when there’s not an eclipse? She’ll figure it out. Or not.
Wearing the glasses and looking at the sun is cool to do when the sun is higher in the sky. You can see that its size in the sky is about the same size as a full moon.
The sun’s diameter is 400x the moon’s diameter, and the sun is 400x times farther than the moon is from us, so in our skies they are about the same size. Which is why we can get total eclipses.
Here are some very cool animations of the eclipse path, courtesy of NASA. Click “Download” for each one, then choose a resolution and give it a few seconds to load.
I’m being followed by a moon shadow. Moon shadow, moon shadow.
Awesome. Thanks, Bumbershoot.
Leapin’ and hoppin’ on a moon shadow. Moon shadow, moon shadow.
Do you know if you can camp at Glendo? I’d love to drive up from Boulder. Just with a tent and sleeping bag. I don’t need a regular camping spot. Just find a flat spot on the ground.
We’re still getting 92% of it here.
I emailed Xavier Jubier with a question today, and he said his website is getting almost a million hits per day, and he expects that to increase dramatically as eclipse day approaches.
Make that 1,000,001! 
The next 4 total eclipses will be over the southern hemisphere, and the first two will have a totality phase over Chile and Argentina. The third will be over Antarctica, and the fourth, a hybrid eclipse (part total and part annular) will be in a narrow strip west and north of Australia.
Today’s Astronomy Picture of the Day shows a total solar eclipse over Antarctica, with a person standing in front of the eclipsed sun. It’s kind of cool. They call it A Total Eclipse at the End of the World.
I agree. We’re coming from the UK to see it from Jackson. This will be my 6th total and no. 9 for my partner. And we met on an eclipse tour!
We’ve seen them in China (twice), Australia, the Faroe and Indonesia. It is a totally mind blowing, awe inspiring experience like no other.
I just realized that, at the max point for my area (about 98% eclipse), I will likely be in a dentists chair staring up at an entirely different kind of light. 
Reschedule! If you are able. 
97.3% in Cheyenne, which isn’t too far north for you. I imagine the highways will be lined with cars pulled over.
Oh, I considered it, but this tooth has already been infected twice in the last 2 months and needs a specialist. Next available appt. is another 6 weeks out, minimum. Better not mess around this time.
Last night, I left a meetup shortly before sundown, and the 2/3 moon was up in the sky. I realized that what I’m going to be looking at will not be all that big (from earth’s vantage point, of course). I’m still excited about this.
I just found out that my eclipse glasses are phoney. Galldarnit! I checked the stats and certifications they posted and everything!
If you plan to look up at the sun to watch the eclipse, make sure the eye protection you are using is listed here:
NASA List of Reputable Vendors
https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/safety
The article that references the manufacturer I bought from “Solar Eclipse International”
Many thanks to MamaZappa for the “heads up!”
Thanks for the tip-I had last week browsed thru Amazon’s stock, and had decided on these, after noting that there were no 1* reviews and their proudly touting their ISO12312-2:2015 certification:
Of course, thanks to this thread, go back to the product page and check-and yep, a number of 1* reviews complaining of a bait and switch with an inferior knock off had shown up after my order was placed. Not on the list in the above link, so will be returning.
Now, imagine just how depraved a company/individual you would have to be to sell a defective product that may well end up being used by hundreds of people on the day of the eclipse and might very well ruin their eyesight. That is Pit-worthy for sure. :mad:
I had looked at some of the cheaper options others are listing, and after looking at the reviews didn’t like what I could see. Someone asked the question about one of these on Amazon, something like “can I see other objects?” If you can, they’re not safe. We ended up buying Celestron glasses and just got them. Putting them on, you can’t see anything unless you’re looking directly at the sun. THEY ARE DARK! I figured buying glasses that are a bit more expensive is worth saving my eyesight, or more importantly my six-year old granddaughter’s eyesight.
The granddaughter is so excited about this; I just hope it’s not overcast in Nebraska. Last night at supper she asked about it again: “When do we go see when the sun comes between us and the moon - I mean, the moon comes between us and the sun!” I was pleased that she understands the geometry of this and corrected herself when she misspoke. She said she wants to be a scientist when she grows up, so will be a great learning opportunity for her.
This is true of mine too. However, the expensive part of making these lenses is blocking out the UV and IR radiation. It’s the wavelengths you can’t “see” that will fry your retinas. So just because they are really dark, and you feel comfortable staring at the sun, and you can’t see anything else but the sun, doesn’t mean that your eyes aren’t taking in a lot of damage. :mad:
That’s the reason to go with the NASA recommended brands; I certainly trust Celestron. I hope no one thinks really dark sunglasses suffices.
One thing I noticed about these is the warning stickers about not looking at the sun for more than three minutes at a time. I hadn’t seen that warning anywhere before getting these glasses.
Wow, scary. I bought mine almost a year ago because I was worried about supply closer to the eclipse. I didn’t think about counterfeits and unsafe products at the time.
Thanks for the link to the NASA list of reputable vendors. As it happens I bought from someone on the list (eclipse2017.org). I saw that the price was a bit higher than on Amazon, but I used their website extensively to learn more and plan my vacation that I felt it better to order from them. Now I’m doubly glad I did.
(As an aside, eclipse.org included safety information and links to safety information for the glasses. They also demanded that the safety information be provided to anyone else using the glasses. It was a bit pushy/cover-their-ass, but I appreciate that they want everyone to be safe).
Now, I also know to keep the glasses super pristine. We have a bunch of travel before the eclipse so I will keep the glasses in the cardboard tube they were mailed in.
Thanks!